COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 23, 2010) – The current U.S. Women's National Team Weekly update released on March 23 includes briefs on U.S. players competing overseas, player information, Volley-Tweets, trivia questions and much more.

For the complete PDF version including a complete list of players training at the team’s facility at American Sports Centers in Anaheim, the U.S. international transfer list, 2009 season stats and other fan interaction sections, click here.

TRIVIA QUESTIONS: 1. Who is the first player to be named to the U.S. Women’s National A2 Program three years in a row? 2. Who was the most recent U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team member inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame? 3. Who was the first female athlete to compete in two Olympiads in two non-related sports (volleyball was one of the sports)? Answers can be found on page three in the full PDF version (click here) of the current U.S. Women’s National Team Weekly update.

UPDATE TO SECOND TRAINING SESSION ROSTER: A total of 15 players are currently training with the U.S. Women’s National Team during its second winter training block that ends April 9. Aneli Otineru (Hale’iwa, Hawaii) started training as an outside hitter with the team on March 22. The team training sessions, held at the American Sports Centers in Anaheim, Calif., are open to the public. Training times are generally Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., while Fridays often vary on times. Middle blockers include Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.), Tracy Stalls (Denver, Colo.), Christa Harmotto (Aliquippa, Pa.), Alexis Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Lauren Paolini (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Mekana Barnes (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Brittnee Cooper (Houston). Outside hitters/opposite include Angie Pressey (Lake Mary, Fla.), Brittany Moore (Orange, Calif.) and Jill Collymore (Bellevue, Wash.). The setters training include Bryn Kehoe (North Bend, Ohio) and Nicole Vargas (Seal Beach, Calif.). The libero position has Jessica Fine (Tarzana, Calif.) and Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii) training with the U.S. Women’s National Team. Some players could leave for pro opportunities or other circumstances.

U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL A2 PROGRAM ROSTER SELECTED: USA Volleyball has selected 24 players and four coaches to lead its U.S. Women’s National A2 Program for 2010. The 2010 U.S. Women’s National A2 program is scheduled to train May 24-28 in Tempe, Ariz., before being split into two 12-player rosters to compete in the Open Division of the 2010 USA Open National Championships held in nearby Phoenix. The Open Division flight takes place May 29-June 1 at the Phoenix Convention Center. Additional information on the tournament can be found by clicking here. “I was very happy with the level of the tryout held in February and, as a result, we expect that this year’s A2 teams will be very strong in training and in competition at the USA Open National Championships,” U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. “The future continues to look bright for the U.S. Women’s National Team with the talent coming up through the pipeline.” The 2010 U.S. Women’s National A2 Team includes four setters, 10 outside/opposite hitters, six middles and four liberos. The 24 players come from 18 different collegiate programs. For the full release with the roster, click here.

McCUTCHEON, KIRALY TO SPEAK AT CLINIC: U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) and his assistant coach Karch Kiraly (San Clemente, Calif.) will be keynote speakers at the Midwest Volleyball Instructors spring clinic March 27-28 at Apple Valley, Minn. “We thought it would be really interesting to to give them the opportunity to talk about their philosophy of getting a team to reach its highest performance level,” Midwest Volleyball Instructors Director Walt Weaver said. Registration for the MVI Clinic is being accepted online at www.mvicamps.com and at the door. Other MVI spring clinic speakers include University of Minnesota Head Coach Mike Hebert, St. Olaf College co-Head Coach Cindy Book and Shakopee High School Head Coach Matt Busch. Clinic hours are 9 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. on March 27 and 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on March 28.

INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS: For a full listing of the 149 international transfers for American female players to other countries to play professional volleyball, visit the full PDF version of the U.S. Women’s National Team Weekly Update.

BARBOZA WITH TORAY IN JAPAN: Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.), an outside hitter with the U.S. Women’s National Team and alternate on both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games rosters, is playing in her first professional volleyball season in Japan V-League with Toray. Barboza tallied 12 kills on 30 swings while adding three blocks to help Toray upset league-leader JT 25-19, 23-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-13 on March 20. She added 21 service receptions with 11 rated at excellent. After pulling out the victory over the league leader, Toray needed five sets to defeat sixth-place NEC 29-17, 24-26, 25-21, 15-25, 15-8 on March 21. Barboza produced one of her best matches while playing for Toray with 24 kills on 53 attempts to go with three aces for 27 points. With the two victories, Toray finished second in the V-League regular season with a 21-7 record. It will compete in the semifinal round held April 2-4 in Aichi. Toray plays Hisamitsu on April 2, followed by JT on April 3 and Denson on April 4.

BERG PUSHING ITALIAN TEAM TO TOP: Lindsey Berg (Honolulu), a setter on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team which won the silver medal in Beijing, is playing for MC-Carnaghi Villa Cortese of the Italian Serie A professional league this winter. Villa Cortese swept ninth-place Riso Scotti Pavia 25-18,2 5-16, 25-15 on March 21 to improve to 16-5 on the season with 48 points for second place. Berg set her squad to a 56 kill percent with 55 kills on 99 swings with only nine errors for a .465 hitting efficiency. She added one kill on two attempts. Villa Cortese concludes the Italian Serie A regular season on March 28 against sixth-place Yamamay Busto Arsizio. Villa Cortese can still claim the league title with a victory coupled with a Scavolini Pesaro loss. Pesaro currently leads the standings by two points and finishes with ninth-place Riso Scotti Pavia. Both Villa Cortese and Pesaro hold a 16-5 overall record, but Pesaro leads the standings with 50 points to Villa Cortese’s 48 points (three points for a victory in three or four sets, two points for a five-set victory and one point for a five-set loss). To follow Berg throughout the season, check out her blog at lindseyberg.blogspot.com.

TOM, ASYSTEL VOLLEY NOVARA: Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah), a three-time Olympian and member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Games silver medal roster, is competing for Asystel Volley Novara in the Italian Serie A professional league this winter. Novara defeated Zoppas Industries Conegliano 25-21, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20 on March 20 to move back into eighth place in the league standings. Tom scored a match-high 21 points with 18 kills on 47 swings and three blocks. She added a 72 positive percent on 29 service receptions. Novara rounds out the Italian Serie A regular season on March 28 against third-place Foppapedretti Bergamo. After the regular season concludes, Novara will play Bergamo once again on April 3 in the CEV Indesit Champions League Final Four semifinal. The other semifinal will have host RC Cannes playing Turkey’s Fenerbahce Acibadem.

BOWN COMPETING FOR JESI: Heather Bown (Yorba Linda,Calif.), a three-time Olympian with the U.S. Women’s National Team, is competing for Monte Schiavo Banca Marche Jesi in the Italian Serie A professional league. Jesi dropped a 22-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-20 match to league-leader Scavolini Pesaro on March 21. Bown was credited with eight kills, three blocks and an ace for 12 points. Jesi remains in fourth place with a 13-8 overall record and 38 points in the league standings. Jesi concludes the Italian Serie A regular season on March 28 against seventh-place Despar Perugia.

METCALF PROVIDING OFFENSE IN BRAZIL: Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa), a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Games roster, is in Brazil playing for Usiminas/Minas of the Brazilian Superliga. Usiminas played two five-set matches last week, splitting the outcome. Metcalf blasted a total of 26 kills on 67 attempts to go with a block for 27 points, but it was not enough as Volei Futuro won 17-25, 25-22, 25-17, 23-25, 15-11 on March 16. In its next match, Usiminas held off Praia Clube/Banana Boat 25-23, 25-21, 18-25, 23-25, 15-13 on March 18. As one of five players reaching at least 11 points on the winning side, Metcalf scored 16 points with 12 kills on 34 attempts, two blocks and an ace in the victory. She did not start the second and third sets of the match. On March 20, Usiminas swept Mackenzie/Newton Paiva 25-21, 25-16, 25-21 without Metcalf playing. Usiminas dropped to fourth place in the league with a 17-7 overall record (10-2 in the second half). Usiminas is idle this coming week for the 14th and final round of the second half.

IMPORTS DEFEAT PUERTO RICO IN ALL-STAR MATCH: In a Puerto Rico Super League All-Star match matching the imports against the natives, the imports came out on top on March 21. The imports won the match 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 25-15 in Caguas. U.S. Women’s National Team setter Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.), who plays for Catano in the Puerto Rico Super League, was named the match’s most valuable player. She tallied 14 assists, four digs and two points on a block and ace. Other members of the imports included Erin Moore (USA/Bayamon), Shonda Cole (USA/Caguas), Jessica Jones (USA/Carolina), Karla Echenique (Dominican Republic/Carolina), Airial Salvo (USA/Catano), Dulce Maria Tellez (Cuba/Guaynabo), Katie Kimmich (USA/Guaynabo), Kelly Wing (USA/Juncos), Tiffany Dodds (Canada/Mayaguez), Nellie Spicer (USA/Ponce), Sonja Newcombe (USA/Ponce), Stacey Gordon (Canada/Toa Baja) and Jennifer Joines Tamas (USA/Toa Baja). Jones was the leading scorer for either team with 17 points, while Newcombe adde 13 points. Moore served as the team’s libero, compiling 16 digs and 15 positive service receptions. To date, the imports have won seven of the last nine All-Star matches.

JOINES TAMAS, BUSSE WITH TOA BAJA: Jen Joines Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.) and Cassie Busse (Prior Lake, Minn.), both members of the U.S. Women’s National Team, are playing for 2009 Puerto Rico League champion Toa Baja in 2010. Toa Baja rallied to defeat Guaynabo 24-26, 20-25, 25-13, 25-14, 15-13 on March 16. Busse and Joines Tamas scored 14 points each in the contest, while former Ohio State standout Stacey Gordon tallied a match-high 29 points. The Llancheras topped Carolina 25-19, 25-17, 25-22 on March 18. Busse scored eight points in the victory. For the second in the week, Toa Baja rallied for a five-set victory – this time a 22-25, 25-14, 20-25, 25-22, 15-10 victory over Mayaguez on March 20. Busse scored 10 kills and an ace for 11 points, while Joines Tamas matched her total with eight kills and three aces. Gordon scored 21 points for a match-high total. Busse provided 12 points for the Llaneras as they defeated Juncos 25-20, 25-14, 25-21 on March 22. Joines Tamas added six kills in the victory. After a season-opening loss, Toa Baja now holds a 15-1 record and leads second-place Catano (10-4) by four matches. The Llaneras are off until a March 28 match against Corozal, followed by a key match against Catano on March 30.

THOMPSON, SALVO WITH CATANO: Setter Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.) and outside hitter Airial Salvo (Farmington, Utah), both members of the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team and products of University of Washington, are playing for Catano de Lancheras of the Puerto Rico Superliga. Catano got back in the win column by recovering from a two-set deficit to knock down Ponce 19-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-4 on March 18. Salvo tallied 23 points and 26 digs in the victory. Thompson set eight assists with three of her teammates reaching at least 16 kills. Salvo hammered out 11 kills with an ace in helping Catano to a 25-21, 25-23, 25-23 victory over Carolina on March 22. Thompson added nine assists and eight digs. Catano improved to 10-4 on the season and is in second place. The Lancheras face Guaynabo on March 24, followed by Corozal on March 26, Juncos on March 28 and versus league-leader Toa Baja.

SPICER WITH PONCE: Nellie Spicer (Barrington, Ill.), a setter with the U.S. Women’s National Team, is competing for Ponce of the Puerto Rico Superliga in 2010. Spicer tallied nine assists, 20 digs and two blocks in a near upset of Catano on March 18, but the Leonas ended with a 19-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-4 loss after winning the first two sets. Spicer chipped in six assists, 11 digs, an ace and block for Ponce in its March 20 three-set loss (25-19, 26-24, 25-21). Ponce reached the win column on March 20 as it defeated Bayamon 25-19, 25-19, 25-21. Spicer turned in 10 assists, eight digs, an ace and a kill in the victory. Ponce is now 7-8 on the year and in fourth place. The Leonas challenge Juncos on March 26, Mayaguez on March 28 and Carolina on March 30.

HUGHES WITH COROZAL: Heather Hughes (Fallbrook, Calif.), an opposite with the U.S. Women’s National Team, was picked up in mid-season by Corozal of the Puerto Rico Super League. She scored a team-high 14 points with 11 kills and three aces, along with a team-high 15 digs, in a three-set loss to Mayaguez on March 16. Hughes notched 10 points with eight kills and two aces in helping Corozal to a 25-10, 25-27, 23-25, 25-16, 16-14 victory over Caguas on March 21. In fifth place, Corozal improved to 6-8 on the season and is one of four teams with six victories. Corozal returns to the court on March 24 versus Carolina, March 26 versus Catano, March 28 versus Toa Baja and Juncos on March 30.

KIMMICH, HAMPTON WITH GUAYNABO: Katie Wilkins Kimmich (Lakeside, Calif.), an outside hitter with the U.S. Women’s National Team, is competing for the Mets of Guaynabo in the Puerto Rico Superliga. Former U.S. National Team player Marcie Hampton was picked up by the team in mid-season. Kimmich scored 10 points for Guaynabo on March 16 as the Mets won the first two sets against league-leader Toa Baja, but lost the final three sets for a tough five-set loss. Marcie Hampton, playing in her first match of the season, tallied 14 points in the loss. Kimmich totaled a match-high 20 points as Guaynabo lost to Juncos 25-15, 25-23, 18-25, 25-17 on March 18. Hampton added 11 points in the loss. Kimmich supplied a team-high 16 points for Guaynabo on March 21, yet Carolina came away with a hard-fought 25-18, 27-29, 25-22, 25-23 victory. Hampton added nine kills in the loss. Guaynabo is now 4-11 on the season and ninth place. The Mets challenge Catano on March 23, Mayaguez on March 25 and Bayamon on March 27.

OTHER AMERICAN HIGHLIGHTS IN PUERTO RICO: According to a Puerto Rico Super League release, Kristee Porter has left Corozal and will be out the rest of the season as she will have an operation in the coming days…Kelly Wing collected 14 points and Erica Lott added 10 points in leading Juncos to a sweep over Carolina on March 16. Carolina was led by Jessica Jones’ 13 points…Caguas’ Shonda Cole notched 14 points to lead the Criollas to a four-set win over Bayamon on March 16. Christine Tan added 12 digs in the victory. In the loss, Erin Moore scored 17 points…Ponce’s Sonja Newcombe scored 19 points in a five-set loss to Catano on March 18…Jessica Jones charted 12 points in Carolina’s three-set loss to Toa Baja on March 18…Juncos’ Kelly Wing contributed 16 points and Erica Lott added 12 points in a four-set win over Guaynabo on March 18…Christine Tan tallied 17 digs as Caguas topped Ponce in three sets on March 20…Sonja Newcombe scored 18 points and Sarah Ammerman added 14 as Ponce downed Bayamon in three sets on March 20. Kylie Atherstone, playing in her first match in Puerto Rico this season, had a Bayamon-high 11 points in the loss while teammate Erin Moore added 10 points…Shonda Cole contributed a Caguas-team-high 18 points in a five-set loss to Corozal on March 21…Kaitlin Sather charted 16 points and Jessica Jones added 11 points as Carolina scored a hard-fought four-set victory over Guaynabo on March 21…Kelly Wing collected 11 points in Juncos’ three-set loss to Toa Baja on March 22, while teammate Erica Lott added 10 points…Carolina’s Jessica Joines scored a team-high 13 points in her team’s three-set loss to Catano on March 22.

NNAMANI, GLASS PACING PROSTEJOV IN CZECH REPUBLIC: Ogonna Nnamani (Bloomington, Ill.) and Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.) continue to lead their Czech Republic professional team Prostejov. The squad concluded its regular season with a 20-0 record, while also winning the Czech Cup and Czech-Slovakian Cup. On March 20, Prostejov dismantled Brno 25-22, 25-9, 25-18. Glass scored 11 kills on 27 attempts along with three blocks and an ace for 15 points. She also provided an 82 positive percent on 17 service receptions. Nnamani added 10 points on nine kills and a block. Prostejov, now 26-0 overall in the Czech league and only five set losses in 83 sets, returns to the court on March 25 against Olymp-Praha, followed by a March 27 match against Olomouc.

RICHARDS, SYKORA HELPING OMICHKA TO RUSSIAN FOREFRONT: Kristin Richards (Orem, Utah), an outside hitter and 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate, and three-time U.S. Olympian Stacy Sykora (Burleson, Texas) are playing in the Russia Super League with Omichka in Omsk. Omichka, which remains in third place in the league standings, was idle for nine days before playing Nugget on March 23. Omichka lost the match 25-18, 25-23, 25-23 in the next to last regular season match of the Russia Super League. Omichka, now 14-7 on the season and in third place, concludes the Russia Super League regular season on March 29 against Dinamo-Yantar.

LARSON PUSHING DINAMO KAZAN TO NEW HEIGHTS: Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) is playing in her first professional season of her career in the Russia Superliga with Dinamo Kazan. Dinamo Kazan was idle in league action last week and returns to the court on March 25 when it faces Dinamo Yantar. Kazan is now 10-10 overall and in a tie for sixth place in the league standings. Larson’s team concludes the Russia Super League regular season on March 29 against Indesit.

FAWCETT SCORING IN RUSSIA: Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio), a U.S. Women’s National Team player, continues to pay dividends for Dinamo-Yantar after joining the team in mid-season. Dinamo-Yantar, idle last week, challenges Dinamo Kazan on March 25 in its next to last Russia Super League regular season match. Dinamo-Yantar is in eighth-place with a 9-11 record and 29 points. Fawcett and Dinamo-Yantar conclude the Russia Super League regular season on March 29 against Omichka.

DAVIS PICKS UP AZERBAIJAN: Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.), the U.S. Women’s National Team libero during the 2008 Olympic Games, has shifted her professional season from China to Azerbaijan. After helping the Evergrande Volleyball Club to a perfect 12-0 season in the Chinese club season, she is now part of Lokomotiv of the Azerbaijan Super League. Her team is 1-2 in the second phase of the Azerbaijan Super League. The federation has decided to postpone the second round of the second phase until the start of April. The For an azerisport.com article translated into English on Davis, click here.

TRIVIA ANSWERS: 1. Carli Lloyd has been named to the U.S. Women’s National A2 Program in 2008, 2009 and 2010; 2. Jean Gaertner, a member of the U.S. Women’s Olympic Team at the 1964 Olympic Games, was inducted in the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2001; 3. Along with participating in the 1964 Olympic Games in women’s volleyball, Jean Gaertner was a member of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team at the 1960 Olympic Games as high jumper.